John 6:33-51 The Quest for the Meaning of Life

John 6:33-51 And then Jesus goes on to give a new revelation. This bread that comes from heaven - the supernatural provision - gives life to the world. It is not physical bread - some wonderful health-bread - that gives life to the world, but He Himself is that bread. This is the first of the seven great "I am"s in John. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." (John 6:35,48) He explains that He is the living bread that if anyone eats, they shall live forever; this bread is His flesh. During the last supper, He identified the bread that was consumed in the Passover Seder celebration with His body. (Matthew 26:26,Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, I Corinthians 11:23-24) The eternal life is not promised in this body of flesh.(I Corinthians 15:50)  It does not simply mean existence, or the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change, either biological or intellectual. It would seem to be closer to meaning spiritual vitality, vigor, or energy. It seems to mean continuous, unbroken relationship with His Father. (John 17:3)

          Perhaps the modern man's philosophical quest for the meaning of life derives from the fundamental rejection of relationship with the Father. When Adam chose to disobey God, he hid himself from God when He was walking in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:8) And every person since then who lives long enough to reach a capacity to make such a choice, makes the same choice as Adam. And so we all hide ourselves from the Father. And then we ask "What is the meaning of life?" The question itself implies that we know there is something fundamental about the why of our existence that we just don't get. We instinctively know that the universe, and our presence in it, cannot be the result of mere causation. But separated from the Father, we come up with all sorts of ideas about the why of existence, all of which are futile, because they miss the point.

          God gave Adam his purpose for existence: he was to rule over the fish, birds, and animals (Genesis 1:26); he was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28); he was to cultivate and keep the garden (Genesis 2:15); and he was to walk with The Lord in the cool of the day (implied in Genesis 3:8). We can see little pieces of this purpose surface in multiple aspects of our lives. Police and firefighters usually feel called to their profession because they feel fulfilled when they are rescuing people and making things right. Farmers raise crops, including weeding and fertilizing, because they find satisfaction in it. Many people have gardens that they tend because they find joy in creating beauty with flowers and plants. People keep pets because there is something innately satisfying in having a relationship with an animal that includes both ruling and nurturing it. But in establishing a purpose for life, it is not within us to establish it for ourselves. This is related to the same issue as first causes. The universe cannot explain its own existence because a causal system has to have a starting point. God is the only being or entity whose existence is not contingent. And this includes the source of meaning and purpose. Only God can do this. So when Jesus told His listeners that He is the bread of life, implicit in this is beyond mere eternal existence, He is the origin of meaning and purpose for all eternity.

          In this passage, Jesus emphasizes that the bread He offers, His body, will satisfy; furthermore, He does this because it is the Father's will. He does nothing on His own initiative. (John 5:30, 8:28) It is the Father's will that everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.

          This is profound. Stop and think about it.

          It is the Father's will that mankind be given the true bread of heaven, which gives eternal life, and that this will satisfy them. Those who come to Jesus will never hunger nor thirst. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:6), Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: they shall be satisfied. This goes far beyond simply being forgiven for sins, although that is both huge and necessary. But in these passages, Jesus promises that those who come to Him will be satisfied with righteousness. It is a life that no longer seeks satisfaction in the things of the world, or in things that are sinful. It is a life that is satisfied with righteousness. Contented with righteous things. Does not hunger or thirst for anything else. And this is the quality of life that will endure for all eternity.

          There may be those who believe heaven will be a happy place because their existence will not be troubled by the consequences of sin. And this is true, but it is an incomplete picture of eternity. Eternity in heaven will be joyous because there is no desire for anything that is sinful. We will be satisfied to be in Jesus' presence.

          At the end of this passage, the Jews grumble because they see Him as the son of Joseph and Mary, whom they know. In repeating Himself, Jesus reveals that it is the Father who draws people to Jesus. But the Jews, as epitomized by the Pharisaical approach to religion, are simply unable to receive Jesus' revelation of the Father.